378 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF 



BEFORE THE FOREST COMMISSION AND THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE 



LAND OFFICE. 



In the Matter of the Purchase of Lands 



OF 



William Seward Webb, 

 TO Quiet Claims for Damages to Lands 

 affected by the Beaver River Reservoir. 



To the Fptrs/ Commission, and to the Commissioners of the Land Office of the State of Ne'M York : 



As appertaining to the above purchase, in which there is to be a settlement of the pending claim 

 of the undersigned, under Laws of 1895, Chap. 561, including in the purchase price the payment of 

 damages to portions of the lands not purchased, with a release thereof by the claimant, attention is 

 respectfully called to the following extracts from the evidence of the witnesses called by the under- 

 signed upon the presentation of his claim before the Commissioners of the Board of Claims : 



The claim, aggregating $184,350.60, is caused by the State dam at Stillwater, on the Beaver 

 River, and is composed mainly of damages done to the lands of the undersigned by reason of the 

 dam and reservoir interfering with the removal of the standing timber upon claimant's lands in 

 Townships 37, 38, 42 and 43, Totten & Crossfield Purchase, and the north part of Township 8 

 and east third of Township 5, John Brown's Tract, comprising in the aggregate 65,836 acres; 

 together with damages done to a portion of the same lands, and the lakes and streams around and in 

 the vicinity of Stillwater reservoir for camp, cottage and park purposes. 



The Beaver River is a natural highway for the floating of logs and timber, and is tributary to a 

 large lumber and pulp wood market. By reason of the construction of the reservoir, the lands of 

 the claimant, to the extent of 65,836 acres, can not be lumbered by water, which is the cheapest and 

 most natural way of lumbering. Moreover, the reservoir renders a large tract of land, of at least 

 ^1,678 acres, all told, totally inaccessible for lumbering by railroad. The balance of the tract, 

 consisting of 44,157 acres, can be lumbered by rail ; ' but lumbering by rail is at least three times as 

 expensive as lumbering by water. 



By reason of the construction of the reservoir a great many existing camp and cottage sites are 

 flooded, a large section of the country rendered unhealthy, and its usefulness and value for camp 

 and cottage purposes completely destroyed. 



It is respectfully submitted that the following propositions of fact are satisfactorily and conclu- 

 sively established : 



First : That the Beaver River and its tributaries are natural highways, having size and capacity 

 for the purpose of floating logs. 



Second: That the Beaver River is tributary to a large lumber market. 



Third : That by reason of the construction of the reservoir, the timber and pulp wood from the 

 lands of the claimant can not be taken to market by water; and the timber on a large quantity of 

 land — 21,678 acres -is cut off and rendered totally inaccessible by either water or rail. 



Fourth: That to lumber the 44,157 acres that are still left accessible, by rail, would be at least 

 three times as expensive as to lumber bv water. 



Fifth : That the claimant has been damaged for lumbering purposes solely, at least $200,000. 



Sixth : That the claimant has been damaged by destruction of camp and cottage sites, overflow- 

 ing of lakes, etc., from at least $60,000 to $70,000 more. 



